Avebury
Major Settlement in the Parish of Avebury
Historical Forms
- Aureberie 1086 DB
- Avesbiria 1114 France
- Avesberia t.Hy1 Ch 1253
- Avesbyry 1256 Pat
- Avesbir' 1289 Ass
- Aveberia c.1180 France 1196 Cur
- Avebiri 1232 Ch 1332 SR
- Avebere Priur 1279 Ass
- Avenesbur' 1255 RH
- Avenebyr' 1268 Ass
- Abury 1386 Pat
- Abery 1535 VE 1539 Phillipps
- Aibyri c.1540 L
- Aubury 1494 Pat 1670 Aubrey
- Awbery al. Avebury 1689 Recov
- Aubury (Bridge) 1773 AandD
Etymology
No certainty can be attained with regard to this name. If we take the Avenesbur ', Avenebyr forms seriously, the DB form Aureberie might be explained as due to common interchange of ne and re in Anglo-Norman spellings (cf. IPN 107) and the name be taken as 'burh by the Avon' on the supposition that this feeder of the Kennet, now called Winterbourne, was at an earlier stage known as Avon. Avebury Priur from the Prior of Avebury (1235 Fees).